Act of Surrender: An Immortal Ops World Novel (PSI-Ops / Immortal Ops Book 2) by Mandy M. Roth

make a great dad, Duke,” said James.
    “You know, someday, you’ll make someone a great father too.”
    “I don’t really see that in the stars,” said James, ending the discussion on him one day mating.  
    “Sing with me now,” said Striker loudly as he twirled Boomer in a circle. “ Oh, William, how you…”
    “Ever worry that they’re our backup?” asked James, doing his best to keep from getting Striker’s song stuck in his head.
    The edges of Duke’s mouth tilted upwards. “Every damn day.”  
    “This would be better if your dress was a tutu,” said Boomer to Striker. “You’d be like a ballerina.”
    Striker growled. “I’m nae wearing a dress!”  
    “You say tomato,” mouthed Boomer, dodging a hit as he laughed.
    “You guys have a weird obsession with tutus,” Duke growled. “That damn monkey still wearing one?”
    Boomer smiled wide. “Yes, Lil Duke, who is not a monkey, he’s a chimpanzee, is still wearing a tutu.”  
    Grumbling, Duke made underhanded comments about there being no difference between a monkey and a chimp. James had heard the entire story while he was in recovery. One of the chimps rescued from a testing lab operated by the Corporation had taken a real shine to Duke’s mate. Because the chimp didn’t seem to like anyone other than Mercy, she told everyone the chimp reminded her of Duke—who hates everyone. Thus, the name Lil’ Duke was given to the chimp who now resided happily in an animal sanctuary that Boomer funded. And apparently Lil’ Duke enjoyed playing dress up.  
    James lifted his head, his attention on Striker and Boomer. “If we let the two of you leave here, how much trouble are you going to get into?”  
    Striker held out one arm, while Boomer held out one as well. Since their other arms were now locked, holding one another up, it was a wide expanse they showed.
    “This much,” they said in unison.
    James laughed. “That’s what I thought.”  
    “It’ll be fun,” said Striker. “You do remember fun, right?”  
    He did.
    Vaguely.  
    “Tell you what, let’s get some coffee in you and let me call Mercy to see what exactly she gave the two of you. Then, if I deem it’s safe, you can leave HQ.”  
    Boomer and Striker jumped and somehow managed to knock heads.  
    “I work with idiots,” said James, still smiling.
    “Fucking idiots,” added Duke as he stood. “I’m going to collect my wife and take her home. Then I’m going to dodge any more calls from Corbin. That doesn’t mean you can forget to keep me posted on your date with the hacker girl.”  
    “Captain looks good in pink. Let’s get him the tutu,” said Striker. “He’s gonna love the hair when he has to show for the Fang Gang meetings.”  
    James cringed. Corbin would be impossible to be around for at least a week. Not to mention the Crimson Sentinels would not be above ribbing Corbin for the hair. After all, the rest of PSI had fun at their expense all the time.
    He glanced over in time to see Boomer dipping Striker as Striker held his kilt out at an angle that looked a lot like a woman lifting her skirt.
    Duke grunted. “Should I break up Ginger and Fred there?”  
    “I’m thinking we should record them,” added James. “Methinks we could award two Assholes of the Weeks .”  
    “I like it, but you’ll have to do the recording. I’m shit with technology.”  
    James laughed. Good to know some things never changed. He opened the top drawer near him and withdrew a digital camera. It had the ability to record video as well. James hit record and took a video of Boomer and Striker as they continued to dance together to the sounds of Striker singing odes to William Wallace. James took a few still shots as well. The award was always better with a picture pinned up near it for proof of the stupidity.
    Duke shook his head. “I seriously cannot believe those two idiots are entrusted with million-dollar equipment, weapons and super-secret government